Sign.



G. J. B. RODW ELL.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILEDAPB. 14, 1910.

1976,51 9. Patented 001;. 21, 1913.

Ti 'AL INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE J.

B. RODWELL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR TO RODWELL SIGN COM- PANY,OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SIGN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 1913.

Application filed April 14, 1910. I Serial No. 555,514.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. B. RonwELL, a subject of the King of GreatBritam, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs,ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to signs, display devices and articles of likenature.

A general object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device of theabove type which shall attract and hold attention.

Another object is to provide a practical device of the above characterin which letters or symbolic characters of any desired configuration maybe formed in such manner as to produce strong contrast between portionsthereof and to have artistic appearance.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed outhereinafter. v

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope ofthe application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing wherein are shown various possibleembodiments of my invention, Figure l is a front view of a lettercomprising certain features of this invention; Fig. 2 is a cross sectiontaken on line :vw of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by thearrows; Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of a sign showing a plurality ofsymbolic characters, the same being a modification of the invention.Fig. 5

is across-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention. j.Snmlar reference-characters.refer to s1m1- lar parts throughouttheseveral views.

Preliminary to a description of the invennature of those with which thisinvention deals, it is desirable that the lettering or other design beprominent and stand out as clearly as possible from the surroundingsurface. This is best accomplished by makmg this part appear luminous,either by means of light from an independent source transmitted throughthe same or by means of reflecting or diffusing the light cast on theouter surface thereof. The latter is the simpler and more economicalcourse but the reflecting surface if unprotected may be obsoured by anatural accumulation thereon. Best results are attained when. the faceof a letter has a slightly roughened light diffusing surface in strongcontract with certain other brilliantly reflecting surfaces. Signs madein accordance with the present inven tioln are well adapted to attainthe above 'resu ts.

Referring now to Fig. 1 of the drawings, there is represented by 1 acharacter, that illustrated being the letter G, which comprises a pieceof sheet metal die-pressed to provide a plane marginal portion 2 and aconvex depressed portion 3. Between the edges of said depressed portionand said marginal portion there extends an outwardly flaring portion 4which is given a bright reflecting surface. The stamping is socarriedout that sharp lines 5 form the boundaries of the said. depressedportion.

.This depressed portion forms the face of the letter and is covered witha coating 6 ofpaint or a similar substance which is flowed upon theconvex surface thereof, the sharply defined edges 5 enabling said paintto form a coating having a clear outline. 'While the paint is still wetfinely powdered glass or other glassy substance is sprinkled thereon andwhen dry, the surface formed thereby is one not only well adapted todiffuse light, but by reason of the irregular faces provided by theglass, to produce an eflect whereby the attention of the asser-by isinstantly attracted-L Instead of painting'the face portion 3 and thenpowdering with glass, the I effect produced by the irregular surfaces ofthe glass may be in part obtained by corrugating or indenting thesurface of said portion and then applying a coat of gilt to both saidface and the inclined portion-4.. Another advantage of a surface of thischaracter is that the letter, or other character or device,

maybe seen from a much greater distance than is the case when-a-smoothregular S1t1-' face is employed. In order that the letter i or charactermay be fully protected, and

having in mind the further object of causing the same to stand out'clearly and distinctly, the letter is mounted upon theback t. f atransparent facing, preferably a glass p ate,- as 7, and is aflixedtheretoin anyadesired manner. A portion of the plate-surround-J 1n theletter has a coatingof some opaque. substance 8, as black or darkcolored paint, applied thereto,'as shown in Fig.- 3. The paint forms aborder surrounding the letter and extends inwardly beneath the same toof; It is to be understood that any number of these characters orletters maybeiapplied to the back'of the facingplate and -.arrang ed te-constitute any desired word or symboL. When a plurality of letters areemployedgit is convenient to stamp the metal in one piececontaining thewhole or the readingematter and the glass is stenciled leaving thelettersor other characters clear, and the rest of: the ground work in.black or in various other colors adapted to produce the-desired efl'ect,

(FigH 4) The metal letters are then-matched 'on t e portions of theglass stenciled, after which the whole is secured in a v--frameain any.desiredmanner. In the latter-construc tion the entireback of the plate-'is covered withthe opaque substance with the BXQGP.

tion of those parts thereof located within-- thejinner .edges of themarginal portlons of" said letters. Andalthougb 'theseletters orcharacters maybe formed of any suitable-- material, sheet brass has beenfound-tohave many; advantages when used in this connection; Theoutwardly. flaring portiona may. be left in its natural color, but ispreferably gilded, It is believed that the bestefie'ct is 1n 4- portionsfinished bll reduced byLhaving the opaque portionslack,.-the centralfags portions white, with clear powdered glass,,,of corrugated andgilded, and the intermediate outwardly'fiav i htly in gilt. he method ofuse of the inventionherein described willybe obvious, but it may benoted that the application of the same is extremely broad and in no wiselimited 'to the'form of sign hereindescribed. I

As manyv changes: could be made in the above: construction and many aparently; widely. difl'erent embodiments .of t 1s inven tion could bemade ,without departingdrom; the scopethereof as set forth m the appendI Y ed claims, it-is intended that all matter con,-

tained in the above description or'showfi 'in' the-accompanying drawlngsshall be intere preted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is;

1. A'-symboliccharacter comprising, in combination, a marginal portion,a sharply defined inner face portion depressed below said marginalportion and connected therewith by an outwardly flaring portion, and a'coating on said face portion adapted to .diifuse light and appear instrong contrast with said other portlons.

2. A symbolic character con1prising, in combinatlon, amarginal portion,a sharply defined inner face portion" depressed belowsaid-marginalportion and connected therewith by. an outwardly flaring.portion, and a coatinglon said face portion comprising a fineglassy.substance. the inner edge of the marginal portion there.

3.- Asymbolic'character or letter compris- 1 ing, in combination, aplane marginalportlon, a convex central face portion,sa1d faceportion-,bein-g: depressed below said mar-' ginal portion-and connectedtherewith by an outwardly flaring-portion, a reflecting coat ing'applied to said flaring portion, and means covering said face portionadapted to diffuse light and to appear in strongtcontrast with saidotherportions.

4. A symbolic character or letter comprising, in combination, a planemarginal portion, a convex-central face portion, said face portionbeing-depressed below said marglnal portion and connected therewith by.an outwardly, flaringr portion, and a coating-applied to saidface'portion adapted to appearin strongwontrast-.-with saidother-portions. 5. A symbolic ch'aracteror letter comprismg, incombination, a plane marginal pertion, and a convex central faceportion, said face portion being. depressedbelow said marginal' portionand connected therewith by an outwardly flaring portion, said faceportion being, covered withpaint and-a comminuted glassy substance.-

6." In an advertising sign, in combination,

aglass facing, -a pluralityof characters each comprising. a planemarginal portion, a de& pressed central portion and an outwardly flaringportion connecting-said other two ortions,'said characters being aflixedto the ack of said substance applied to said ack'and extending'. beneathsaid characters. to the inner central face portion, said face portionbeing lass with the said marginal. portion lying, atly-therea ainst, anopaque depressed below said marginal portion and In testimony whereof Iaifix my signaconnected therewith by an outwardly flartune, in thepresence of two witnesses. ing portion, said face portion being pro--vided with irre lar reflecting surfaces and GEORGE J. B. RODWELL. Iwith an applie coating, and a coating applied to said flaring portion,whereby said Witnesses: last portions appear in strong contrast withRALPH A. ADAMs, said marginal portion. CLARENCE U. CARRUTH.

It is hereby certifiedthat in Letters atent No. 1,076,519, grantedOctober 21, 1913, upon the application of George J. B. Rodwell, ofBuffalo, New York, for an improvement in Signs, an error appears in theprinted specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 40,strike out the word view; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conform the recordof the case in the Patent Ofiioe. I V

' Signed andsealed this 28th day of October, A. 1)., 1913.

51141.1 THo as EWING,

' Oommimfaizar of Patents.

7 Correction In Letters Patent No. 1,076,519.

depressed below said marginal portion and In testimony whereof I aifixmy signaconnected therewith by an outwardly flartune, in the presence oftwo witnesses. ing portion, said face portion being pro- -vided withirre lar reflecting surfaces and GEORGE J. B. RODWELL. I with an appliecoating, and a coating applied to said flaring portion, whereby saidWitnesses: last portions appear in strong contrast with RALPH A. ADAMs,said marginal portion. CLARENCE U. CARRUTH.

It is hereby certifiedthat in Letters atent No. 1,076,519, grantedOctober 21, 1913, upon the application of George J. B. Rodwell, ofBuffalo, New York, for an improvement in Signs, an error appears in theprinted specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, line 40,strike out the word view; and that the said Letters Patent should beread with this correction therein that the same may conform the recordof the case in the Patent Ofiioe. I V

' Signed andsealed this 28th day of October, A. 1)., 1913.

51141.1 THo as EWING,

' Oommimfaizar of Patents.

7 Correction In Letters Patent No. 1,076,519.

